SHIMLA, INDIA – 3

Part 3

Choice of Wool

The old mall consists of small shops and restaurants, vendors with a variety of goods and homegrown vegetables all on mats on the ground.

Veg Vendor

The route lead down a tortuous path to one of the largest hospitals, Tenzin Hospital.

In the Mist[/caption]

The rest of the city, the lower parts, consists of narrow paved roads that carry heavy horn blowing motor traffic. The congested roads choke with dust and exhaust. We were amazed at the skill of drivers who are able to squeeze through the narrowest of lanes with oncoming traffic, cyclists, pedestrians and parked vehicles. Hotels, office buildings and homes cling to the steep cliffs of mountains. Paths meander through the mazes of mansions and forestry of pine and deodar.

Shimla’s very similar to Darjeeling. Twisting, narrow roads and lanes are lined with stalls and shops some brightly lit and others dark as night. They stock local and foreign goods. We loved walking up and down these lanes until we were ready to collapse. Snack shops abound, hundreds of beautifully packaged snacks. And stands with cauldrons of hot oils frying samosas, pakoras and interesting savories, smelling delicious and warm.

Big Wok

Lots of dhaba style eateries offered freshly made hot parathas, and pickles.

Parathas and Pickles

Food was not too exciting for us – the usual North Indian stuff and some poor imitation Southern food.
We found Baljees Resaurant on the mall one of the best.

Baljees

Mo-mo (dumpling) stalls, especially in the cold nights, are inviting but there was a definite lack of vegetarian mo-mos.

Nothing available like the delicious chilli-cheese and spinach mo-mos of Bhutan, Sikkim, and Nepal.

P.S.
Warning: Avoid public toilets unless you plan on committing hara-kiri whilst in there and so not return to civilization. Restaurant toilets are bearable.